Carlsbad Red Tide - Rob Wessels Photography

Red Tide in San Diego

This has been the longest lasting red tide I can remember. Maybe the longest in San Diego history?? I just googled it. Apparently the last red tide this large was in 1995. One thing I feel that is unique to this bloom is the lovely aroma. If you have driven by one of San Diego’s six lagoons the smell of microbiome decay is very present. Last sunday May, 3 was the first day I noticed the ocean reeking with the not so pleasant smell. But the waves were pumping soooo… you deal with it and take a shower as soon as you get home.

If you want to see some of the neon show these brown waves put on at night click here to see photos I took of some surfers catching waves at night. There is also a GoPro video I put up of me surfing in the bioluminescent waves.

big surf carlsbad — Surfer having a look at a large wave in Carlsbad red tide – Rob Wessels Photography

Big Waves in San Diego

In addition the neon glowing waves at night San Diego had an uncharacteristically early pulse of large south west swell. This made for some big, very unphotogenic waves. Sunday was probably some of the largest barreling surfable waves Carlsbad has had for a while. All the photos in this blog were taken after my morning surf around mid day. Even with it being a large high tide there were still some XL sets rolling in.

Lifeguard rescue in Carlsbad

This was probably one of many on this day. Unfortunately for this surfer she took a few lager set waves on the head. Pushing her in between the jetties at Ponto. Another unfortunate thing for her was that the tide was beginning to drop and when that happens good luck fighting the current coming out of the lagoon.